Global Policy Forum

By Mark John

EU troops hope to have insulated eastern Chad from the violence in Sudan's Darfur region within one year despite growing concerns over delays to peace efforts in Darfur itself. The commander of the 3,500-plus European Union force to be deployed to Chad and Central African Republic in coming weeks said on Tuesday his troops would fire back if attacked by Chad rebels but would not interfere in local power struggles.

Irish Lieutenant-General Patrick Nash said the EU force would be fully operational by mid-May and aims to create a safe and secure environment within an initial 12-month mandate. "Progress will have been made in allowing the beginnings of the IDPs (internally displaced persons) to return," Nash told a news conference of the mission's core aim to protect civilians and aid workers caught up in violence spilling over from Darfur.

Torben Brylle, EU special representative for Sudan, voiced concerns about the impact of expected delays to the much larger joint U.N.-African Union force in Darfur after the United Nations forecast that it would take most of 2008 to deploy. "We see with concern the delays and difficulties in terms of UNAMID," he said of the force. "We believe there could be positive synergies from the simultaneous deployment of the two operations ... It is regrettable." The head of U.N. peacekeeping, Jean-Marie Guehenno, said on Monday full deployment of the 26,000-strong U.N.-AU force would be delayed because of conditions set by the Sudanese government, including the rejection of some non-African contingents.

The Darfur conflict in western Sudan has killed some 200,000 and driven more than 2 million from their homes since rebels took up arms against the government in 2003.

BOMBARDMENT

Foreign ministers of the 27-member EU agreed on Monday to launch the Chad mission after months of delays caused by shortages of key equipment such as helicopters.

Military sources in Chad's capital N'Djamena said government helicopters had bombarded positions of the UFDD rebel group, who have threatened to attack peacekeepers who stand in their way, on Monday near the border town of Ade. Chad's government said Sudanese-backed mercenaries crossed the frontier on Monday to attack its positions, two days after raiders killed and raped people in the village of Moudeina. "The village was systematically looted and completely burned," the government said in a statement.

Former colonial power France is expected to provide more than half the troops for the EU force. Nash stressed more than a dozen other nations would be present and the force would be completely separate from a French force already on the ground. Asked if EU forces would fire back if shot on by Chad rebels, he replied "yes". "We have a clear mission. If the rebels are not interfering in our mission, it is no business of ours," he said. Nash said EU nations had pledged enough equipment and troops to launch the force but he would need extra air transport and ground troops for full deployment for the life of the mission.